Abstract:
The study was designed to enhance the students’ academic performance in solubility
and enthalpy change as topics in chemistry through the use of laboratory- based
practical activities. The following were the objectives of the study: to determine
students’ pre-conceptions on solubility and enthalpy change before the practical
activities, to evaluate the effect of the use of practical activities on students’
performance on studying solubility and enthalpy change and to determine students’
perceptions of the use of laboratory practical activities in learning the selected topics
in chemistry. It was an intact - class action research. Form two (2) thirty students (30)
in Archbishop Porter Girls’ Senior High School, were purposively sampled for the
study. The instrument used for the data collection for the study were pre-intervention
test and post-intervention test, and questionnaire for students. Data collected were
analysed by applying t-test, mean, standard deviation and percentages using statistical
package for social Science (SPSS) version 19.0. The findings revealed that laboratory
activity- based methods of teaching and learning engaged students actively in the
learning process, promoted open- mindedness, helped students acquire skills, aided
better interaction among students and promoted positive perception towards
chemistry. It was recommended that chemistry teachers take students through a lot of
practical activities. This will help them gain better understanding of different concepts
to improve their academic performance.
Description:
A Dissertation in the Department of Science Education,
Faculty of Science Education, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Education
(Science Education)
in the University of Education, Winneba
